Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-11-11
WEST VIRGINIA NEWS.
Especial to the Baltimore American.
NOVEL RAILROAD WRECK.

''i'hf dlt'i HbOH, NHtll tue CARS OF
IA heavy laden freight train jumped
the trace. The engine drawing the
fatal train was No. 80, Engineer Al
Hoover aud Conductor Willis Mar.
shall. The train, known as freight
No. Il, it Is said by eye.wifresses,
came dashlng along at a much
greater speed than is allowed by
the ordinance Of the town of Wells
burg. Just as it was on the slight
grade Immediately north OF Buffalo
creek, at the south end Of Wells
burg, and approaching the bridge
over that stream, the eighth car
from the engine left the track,
whether by the rails spreading or
for what reason can only be con
jectured.
The first seven cars had passed
safely when the accident happened.
The first two cars to leave the track
were TWO Of several new empty box
ears belonging to the Ohio River
Railroad, and being brought here
for that company from the shops at
Minerva, Ohio. These two cars,
after leaving the track, went com
pletely through two dwelling
houses, laying them on the ground
as Hat as the lumber in them could
have been piled. Following the two
cars that did this work Of destruc-
ton, thirteen others were derailed.
The houses that were demolished
were owned by Joseph r. Murphy.
and were occupied by himself and
daughter. who lived in the first
house struck, and his son John and
wife, with two small children, who
lived in the second story.
When the collision occurred Mr..
j. Il. Murphy was absent, and the
daughter, Miss Amelia. was the on.
~ person in the first building, while
the second contained the whole fam.
ily of four, and Murphy, being an
employe Of the Dalzell Brothers
glass house, and having worked on
the night turn the night previous,
had Just awakened, and was in the
act of getting up, when he was car.
rled. with the balance of the family.
among the falling debris of IA we'll
bnllt frame dwelling.
When he realized his situation.
he was lying underneath and near
the wheels of car, with one child
alongside of him, while the wife,
with a baby III her arms, had been
carried some distance, and lodged
in a position from which one could
hardly think she could have been
extricated. The daughter of Joseph
Murphy was severely cut and 9th.
erwise bruised about the head
and face by flying missiles. and the
gaShes on her face required several
stitches. The infant was also bad
ly injured. Mrs. Murphy was Sc.
llOuSlN DIulScu.
Many theories are advanced as
to the cause Of the accident, but no
definite conclusion could be given
as TO the real cause. From the de.
pot to the spot where the ears left
the track is about five squares.
which embraces quite a grade, and
heavy trains frequently, before they
can overcome il. run back n quarter
of a mile, and, by using sand, put
their utmost power into execution.
WHEELING, w. VA. Nov. A.
News reached this city today of a
terrible explosion occurring at the
coal mines of the Maynard Coal
COmpany's works, located five miles
west of the river in Ohio. The &C.
cldcnt occurred Wednesday even
ing after the miners had quit work
for the day and were preparing to
retire for the night. Fritz Richter,
Julius BuckhOlz, Jack KesSler, JnO.
Elkas and Henry Leber were gath.
cred around the fire in the house
they occupied jointly, it being a
large frame structure. In it was
stored quantity of tools, some oil
and key of mining POWDER
While smoking and talking. one Of
the men emptied the contents of
his tobacco pipe on the powder keg,
and some loose grains ignitIng, an
explosion occurred, which blew the |
building into pieces and scattered |
the five men around with the de.
bris. Richter and BuckhOlz were
both frightfully mangled, aud their
death is but a matter OF a few
hours. Kessler. Leber and Elkas
were very badly burned, but all
three will recover. The five men
belonged in Wheeling, they having
but recently obtained work at the
mines.
PARKERsBURG, w. VA, Nov. 6.
Every day evidence is brought to
this city, corrobOrative of the state
ment recently made in The Ameri.
ran, that the men lynched in ROane
county for the murder Of Rev. Ryan
were not the guilty parties. The
sheriff of Jackson county says that
the lynchers belonged to a gang
who had ruled the county for years,
md had been opposed by the Duffs
and Cunningham because n broth
'r OF the latter had been killed by
hem. Every effort is being made
10 bring the lynchers to Justice
Cunningham is at liberty again
While there is no clue to the real
'Obbers and murderers, the people
If the neIghbOrhoOd are satisfied
hat the right parties have not been
,aught. The mystery deepens as
he case grows Older. Cunningham
: doing all he can to arrest the
ynchers, but the latter has such
support that it is dangerous. More
rouble is expected.
PARKERsBURG, W. VA, Nov. 6.
For some time the owners OF large
racts of fine timber land in Wet2el
md other counties have had large
OTIS of timber stolen. Men would
mild portable saw-mills, strip the
lest timber and then leave for an
'ther section. In this way millions
# feet OF poplar, oak and walnut
lave been stolen. On Friday two
f the largest owners found that a
nan had a mill not far from New
Iartinsville, and had thirty-fve
zen employed. Warrants were is.